HU's tuition & fees has increased from $23,970 (2015) to $35,810 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 49.40% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $31,778 (year 2015) to $39,178 (year 2025).
The 2025 tuition & fees have risen more than 5% this year (2025) at Howard University.
HU's tuition increase rate is higher than the District of Columbia's average increase rate of 11.40%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 34.60% from 2015 ($43,116).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, HU's COA is $58,032, which is increased by 6.23% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to HU's COA over the past 10 years.
Tuition & Fees Changes
The tuition & fees have increased 49.40% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $35,344. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Howard University over last the 10 years.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,360, and it has decreased -54.67% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $3,000 | - |
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| 2016-17 | $1,500 | -50.00% |
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| 2017-18 | $1,500 | |
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| 2018-19 | $1,500 | |
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| 2019-20 | $1,900 | 26.67% |
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| 2020-21 | $1,900 | |
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| 2021-22 | $1,360 | -28.42% |
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| 2022-23 | $1,360 | |
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| 2023-24 | $1,360 | |
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| 2024-25 | $1,360 | |
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Living Costs Changes
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 21.39% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 350.33% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Howard University.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $16,146 | - | - |
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| 2016-17 | $15,080 | - | -6.60% |
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| 2017-18 | $16,004 | - | 6.13% |
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| 2018-19 | $16,395 | - | 2.44% |
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| 2019-20 | $16,865 | - | 2.87% |
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| 2020-21 | $18,910 | - | 12.13% |
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| 2021-22 | $17,938 | - | -5.14% |
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| 2022-23 | $19,040 | $27,116 | 6.14% |
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| 2023-24 | $19,926 | $28,992 | 4.65% |
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| 2024-25 | $20,862 | $31,280 | 4.70% |
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Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Howard University and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| Howard University | $35,810 | $33,344 | 7.40% |
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| Spelman College | $31,556 | $30,058 | 4.98% |
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| Morgan State University | $19,124 | $21,331 | -10.35% |
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|
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | $17,725 | $17,725 | - |
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| South Carolina State University | $21,750 | $21,750 | - |
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| Delaware State University | $20,634 | $20,250 | 1.90% |
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